Alright, here is another chapter. I'm not so sure how it will turn out, but here goes nothing.

Chapter Ten: Trust and a Performance

(The last thing I left you with)

Erik

I couldn't believe it. She doesn't trust me enough. What can I do to prove me trust? Why do I even care? She'll want to leave immediately when she is healthy again. I shouldn't care if she trusts me or not, but I do. Could I be developing feelings for this girl? No, I can't, I won't. We are only friends and that is how it will stay. I can't be anymore than that. I don't want to give my heart away only to have it ripped out and thrown in my face again. That won't happen. But for right now, I have to find a way to make her trust me. Just then, there was the sound of the portcullis rising. I grabbed my lasso and crept into the shadows to the main room. The intruder docked the gondola and walked onto shore. I was surprised to see that it was….

Erik

I was surprised to see that it was…

Madame Giry!

I walked out from the safety of the shadows and confronted her. "Marie, what are you doing here?" I asked, trying to sound surprised.

"You know very well why I'm here, Erik. Where is my daughter?"

"Your daughter is safe."

"I have no doubt of that. Where exactly is she?" she asked with a worried expression.

I gave a heavy sigh. She wasn't going anywhere without some answers. "She is sleeping in that room, right over there," I said, pointing to Megs' room.

"You must wake her. I will take her back up to the Opera House."

"Your daughter is in no condition to make such a long journey."

"Erik, what have you done to her?"

"So quick at accusing me," I said coldly. "She became ill from the lakes freezing water. She has lost most of her strength and can't walk very far. She will stay here until she is completely healthy once again."

"Erik," she said with sternly.

"Don't worry, Marie. I will take her back to you immediately once she is fully recovered.

"Very well," she said with a sigh. "There is no point in arguing. I also came to tell you that the Opera House will be reopening in three weeks."

"Thank you, Marie. That is wonderful news, but if you don't mind me asking, could you please leave. I have much to do."

"As you wish. Erik, please take good care of my daughter."

"I will, I promise. Goodbye, Marie. It was nice to see you again." She stepped into the gondola and rowed back the way she came. I had a wonderful idea; a way to gain Megs trust. There was much to do.

(Three weeks later)

Meg

"Erik, if I stay in this bed any longer, I think I shall die. I want to move about."

Erik chuckled. "Then what do you propose we do."

I thought for a moment before replying, "Let's go and terrorize Carlotta. I'm sure that'll be fun."

"Meg, you can act like such a child sometimes."

"You shouldn't be talking. You act like one as well."

"No I do not," he protested.

"Oh yeah. Who was the one who played a sick joke on a defenseless young, beautiful, and charming woman and make it up to her by trying to tickle her to her death?" I said with a smirk.

"Well, I wouldn't call her beautiful and charming. More like a rat."

"Did you just call me a rat?"

"I believe I did."

"Very well." I gave him my 'evil smile' and walked up to him. "One question, though. Do you truly think of me as defenseless?"

"Yes." That was the answer I was looking for. I squatted down and swept my legs behind his. He was caught by surprise and stumbled to the ground. Before he could move, I grabbed his arm and held it tightly locked behind his back.

"You were saying?" I said letting him go.

"I stand corrected," he said, sitting up. They sat on the ground for a few moments in silence.

"Meg, I found a way to gain your trust."

"Oh, really?" I asked, trying to sound suspicious. This should be interesting.

"Yes. I will prove it to you tonight."

"Alright."

"Go and find a comfortable dress to wear. Do not put anything fancy on, or it will just be a pain to wear."

"Whatever you say, Erik." I put on a smile and left to go find a dress. I wonder what he has going on in that brilliant mind of his.

(Later on that night)

Meg

"Are you ready, Meg?" Erik called from outside her door.

"Just a minute." I finished tying the last lace that held up the dress. It was a grey dress that was lined with white lace. The dress came a little bit past her knees and fit comfortably. She quickly tied her hair up in a white ribbon and hurried to open the door. Erik stood there, dressed in his usual attire, and held a black piece of cloth in his hand.

"What's that for?" I asked, pointing to the cloth. Instead of telling me what it was for, he turned me around and put the cloth over my eyes and tied it, then turning me back around.. I couldn't see a thing.

"Erik, what's going on?"

"Can you see anything?"

"Oh yes, I can see the whole lair. Duh, Erik. There is a piece of cloth over my eyes. Of course I can't see anything." I heard him chuckle. Then, something much unexpected happened. He scooped me up, bridal style, and carried me somewhere.

"What are we doing, getting married?" I joked.

"Who would want to get married to someone like you?" he responded.

"Ha ha, very funny, Erik."

"I thought it would be."

"You're impossible."

"I know." He placed me down in what seemed to be the boat.

"Erik, may I ask as to where you are taking me?"

"Of course you can." I waited a few moments for an answer, but one never came.

"Where are taking me?"

"Somewhere."

"I know that. Will you tell me where we are going?"

"No," he said simply.

"I give up. There is no getting through to you, is there?"

"Not at all, Meg, not at all." We sat in silence for the rest of the boat trip. There was a sudden jerk and I knew we had to have hit the other side of the shore. He picked me up again and started to carry me to God knows where. It felt as if we were going up some stairs. A couple of minutes later, there was a scraping sound. I couldn't figure out who or what it came from. Not wanting to ask, I stayed silent as he carried me to where ever. Finally, he stopped and spoke to me.

"Meg, take off your blind fold." I did just that, thankful to get the thing off me. My face was starting to sweat from being under that thing for so long. I looked around and saw that we were standing in front of a huge amount of platforms and ropes up in the rafters.

"Erik, now can you tell me what's going on?" I asked confused.

"Yes. This is how I'm going to prove my trust," he said pointing at the mass of ropes and thin pieces of wood. "Hold on tightly to my neck, Meg."

"You're telling me that you are going to take me onto these things. If you fall, we both end up dead."

"I know. That is why I'm doing this. I want you to trust me that I won't let you go. In the middle of these platforms there is a great area where you can see the performances perfectly. It is one of my favorite places to watch them. There is one being held tonight and I would like you to see it from the best seat in the house. No hold on."

"Erik, there is something I need to tell yooouu…" He jumped to one of the closest ropes and started to swing his way to the middle platform. I looked down and just realized how high up we were. We would surly die if he slips. I closed my eyes, waiting for us to start falling to the stage below us. But the falling never came; only a thud and I getting placed on my feet.

"Open your eyes, Meg." I obeyed and looked at him. He smiled and stepped aside to show me how far from the platform we were just on was. We were about fifty feet away, and Erik made it over here with me in his arms without falter. I embraced him very tightly.

"I trust you completely. But I have always…" He put a finger to his lips.

"Quiet, Meg. The performance is about to start. I looked down and saw the corps de ballet running onto the stage. In a moment the curtains opened and the performance of Faust began. We sat down and watch the opera from begging to end. At the end of the performance, Erik carried me to the other side again and we made our way back down to the lair. When we arrived I walked straight to my bedroom. The performance had been splendid. The way Erik showed his trust, though, was unexplainable. He had put himself and myself into danger, just to prove his trust. He truly was an outstanding man and I trusted him with all my heart.

I was sitting at the vanity, brushing my hair when the bedroom door opened and Erik walked in. He came and stood behind me.

"How did you like the performance?"

"It was wonderful, Erik. I never saw such great talent. They sure have improved in the last few weeks. Thank you for taking me with you. I really appreciated it.

"It was my pleasure." He smiled at me and headed for the door. That was it, I had to tell him.

"Erik?" He stopped and turned around.

"Yes, Meg?"

"I wanted to apologize."

"Whatever for?" he asked, confused.

"For making you go through that just for me." I stood up and walked over to him. "I trusted you before you even brought up the subject. I just wanted to see what you would do if I said I didn't trust you. Honestly, I have always trusted you."

"You what?" he asked angrily.

"Erik, what's wrong?" Now it was my turn to be confused.

"You lied to me! You made me think that you didn't trust me enough! You toyed with me! You…you…" He took out his lasso and wrapped it tightly around my neck. "Do you trust me now, mademoiselle? DO YOU?" I didn't lift my hands up to try and take the lasso off. Instead I clung onto the dress and attempted to tell him my answer through breaths. "With…all…my…heart," I managed to say. He loosened the lasso after a moment and lifted it off of my neck.

"Why?" he whispered. I turned to him and spoke. "Because friends trust each other, no matter what. I have trusted you since I was little, even though we were never friends back then. Erik, friends joke around with each other. If I knew that mine would have upset you this much I wouldn't have done it. I'm sorry. Can you ever forgive me?" I said looking away. He cupped my chin with his hands and lifted my face so our eyes would lock; the one thing I was dreading to happen. I didn't want to see the hurt in his eyes, but to my surprise, there was no hurt.

"I forgive you, Meg. Just do me a favor and never do something like this again."

"I promise," I said, wrapping my arms around him and pulling him into an embrace. "I must be getting to bed. I feel exhausted." I let go and headed towards my bed.

"As you should. You have had a long day. Get some rest. I'll see you tomorrow."

"Goodnight, Erik" I said getting under the covers, not caring to change.

"Goodnight, me dear," he said, leaving the room. I was shocked to hear that he actually forgave me. That was such a mean trick I did, yet he forgave me. I guess that's what friends do; they forgive each other. Is that what we were? Friends? Is that all I want us to be? Am I developing feelings for Erik? I had trouble falling asleep tonight. When I finally did, my dreams always brought back the questions I keep on asking myself. The main one being if I were starting to fall in love with the Phantom of the Opera.

I hope you enjoyed this chapter. It took all day to come up with a good idea. Well, review and tell me what you think. I'll get the next chapter up as soon as I can and try to work on my other story as well. Goodbye for now my lovely phans.